Laura Main (born 8 March 1977) is a Scottish actress known for her role as Sister Bernadette and, later, Nurse Shelagh Turner in the BBC One drama series Call the Midwife.
Early life and education Laura Main was born in Aberdeen in 1977. Her father, Robert, was a fish merchant and her mother, Lorna, was a primary school teacher turned housewife. She has two older sisters, a niece, and two nephews.
Laura Main went to school at the Hazlehead Academy and took dance lessons at the Danscentre in Aberdeen. She then studied history at the University of Aberdeen, gaining an MA History of Art in 1998 before starting drama school at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London.
Career
Main started performing in musical theatre at the age of 13 when she landed the role of Annie with Phoenix Youth Theatre. At age 15 she debuted in the role of Louisa von Trapp in a stage production of The Sound of Music. At university she performed as part of the musical society Treading the Boards in Aberdeen. She has performed on stage in several productions with the Royal Shakespeare Company. In 2011 she appeared in the Stephen Sondheim musical Company.
In 2011 she was cast as Sister Bernadette in the hit BBC series Call the Midwife. Main features as a soloist in several tracks on the Call the Midwife album released in February 2013. In November 2015 Main won the Children in Need Strictly Come Dancing special with dancer Brendan Cole.
In 2017, Main was cast in the lead role of Princess Fiona, in the second UK tour of Shrek The Musical. Main shared the role with The X Factor contestant Amelia Lily. Main's first performance was on 12 December 2017, at the Edinburgh Playhouse.
From January 2023, Main starred as M'lynn in a production of Steel Magnolias at the Richmond Theatre, London. Main appeared alongside Lucy Speed, Diana Vickers, Caroline Harker and Elizabeth Ayodele. The production, going on to tour the UK, was rated 2/5 stars by What's on Stage.
In February 2024, Main was scheduled to star in Chris Chibnall’s new play, One Last Push, at Salisbury Playhouse.
Filmography Year Film/TV Role Notes2002 Is Harry on the Boat? Rival Club Rep TV series (1 episode) 2003 The Forsyte Saga: To Let Mary McKenzie TV mini-series (1 episode) Trevor's World of Sport Nurse TV series (2 episodes) 2004 Monarch of the Glen Jaynie Cresswell TV series (1 episode: #6.4) Murder City DC Alison Bain TV series (10 episodes, 2004–2006)2007 Holby City Julia Mason TV series (1 episode: "After the Fall") 2010 The Invisible Atomic Monsters from Mars Beth Film Rob and Valentyna in Scotland Waitress in Pub Short 2011 Holby City Deirdre Hunter TV series (1 episode: "What You Mean by Home") Doctors Amanda Luckhurst TV series (1 episode: "Lasso the Moon") 2012–present Call the Midwife Sister Bernadette (Nun)Nursing Sister Shelagh Turner (Nurse) TV series (101 episodes)2013Dead CatEttaFilm2014The MillRebecca HowlettTV series (Series 2: 6 episodes) 2014 Father Brown Dorothy Underwood TV series (1 episode: "The Maddest of All") 2016 Doctors Kate Wilkinson TV series (1 episode: "Living Together")2022Roots & FruitsPak Choi (voice)TV series (26 episodes) Children's animation
Theatre
Year Play title Role Notes1990AnnieAnnieAberdeen Arts Centre 1992 The Sound of Music Louisa von Trapp His Majesty's Theatre Aberdeen 1996 Aberdeen Student Show: The Good, the Bad and the Buttery His Majesty's Theatre Aberdeen 1997 Aberdeen Student Show: Scaffie Society Judy Free His Majesty's Theatre Aberdeen 1998 Aberdeen Student Show: From Rubislaw with Love Shauna Connery His Majesty's Theatre Aberdeen2001 Company Amy Aberdeen Arts Centre Alice in Wonderland Edith/Eaglet (understudy Alice) Royal Shakespeare Company2002 As You Like It Phebe, a shepherdess Regents Park Open Air Theatre Romeo and Juliet Juliet Regents Park Open Air Theatre2006 Young Woodley Maude Finborough Theatre Tea and Sympathy Laura Reynolds Finborough Theatre 2007 All I Want For Christmas Irina Vanevskaya Upstairs at the Gatehouse 2008 On the Island of Aars Morag McMac Pleasance Islington and Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh2009 State Fair Margy Frake Finborough Theatre Super Alice Smith Carly Trafalgar Studios2010 State Fair Margy Frake Trafalgar Studios Me and Juliet Jeanie Finborough Theatre 2011 Company Susan Southwark Playhouse 2012 Robin Hood Maid Marian Queen's Theatre Barnstaple 2013 The Lost Dragon Harlow Playhouse 2018 Shrek the Musical Princess Fiona UK tour2019CinderellaFairy GodmotherHis Majesty's Theatre Aberdeen2023Steel MagnoliasM'Lynn Eatenton2023 UK & Ireland Tour2024One Last PushJenSalisbury Playhouse
References
External links